Last Updated on 16.12.22 by Gorvins
2022 – Reflecting on the year
As we all pack up for the Christmas holidays and prepare for the new year ahead, Gorvins lead partner Mark Deverell is reflecting on an eventful year and thinking about what 2023 has in store.
The importance of giving back
2022 will not be an easy year to forget. While it’s been a year of opportunity and for many, growth, for others, it’s been a year of challenge and adversity. With the cost-of-living crisis raging across the country, the festive season will be muted for many families and businesses feeling the pinch.
This Christmas, we’re supporting the Merseyway Giving Tree, buying gifts for less fortunate children and people in Stockport to ensure they can have the Christmas they deserve. With lots of families feeling the cost-of-living crisis, it’s more important than ever to lend a helping hand.
And that’s not all. All year, we’ve been fundraising for our charities of the year The Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.
An eventful year for Gorvins
At the start of 2022, the UK was starting to emerge from the pandemic and we were all busy getting back to normal life. Here at our Stockport office, we’ve been enjoying a return to office working. But we’re not throwing the baby out with the bath water and we’ll be keeping some hybrid working, enjoying the best of both worlds.
This won’t change anything for you, our clients, to who we’ll continue to provide industry-leading legal services, no matter where we are. Our commitment to this level of service is reflected by some of our 2022 highlights.
Our 2022 highlights
As a practice, we renewed our Lexcel accreditation, meaning our commitment to quality client care, practice management and compliance has been independently verified. The accreditation sets the standard for:
- client care
- risk management
- people management
- structure and strategy
- financial management
- information management
- file and case management
2022 has also seen us grow our staff roster with several new solicitors joining the team at different seniority levels and expanding the legal services that we offer to our clients. Having the right people in place is vital in delivering the very best legal services and representation and we’re extremely proud of our multi-disciplinary team.
The strength of our staff is evidenced by the success of our different departments across the practice. They’ve all had a successful year, with plenty of reasons for celebration.
Our military personal injury team
Our military personal injury department has brought in some substantial settlements this year, including one we believe to be the largest recorded for a non freezing cold injury.
Gary and the team have been steadfast in their efforts to bring in fair settlements for those living with life-changing injuries and illnesses sustained in military service.
Our personal injury team
Our general PI team has continued to go from strength to strength with much success coming from our valued referrers. Pushing on into 2023 we’ll be continuing to provide a valuable service to our PI clients, helping them get the recompense they deserve.
Our corporate commercial team
The corporate commercial team have had a fantastic year, bucking the trend we’re seeing elsewhere in the industry. With a very healthy pipeline taking us to the end of the year and way into 2023, there’s a lot to keep the team busy.
Gorvins has established itself as one of the best Solicitor firms working with SMEs in the Northwest and we look forward to carrying that reputation into the new year.
Our commercial property team
The commercial property team had possibly its best year on record. Although we’re anticipating the property market to slow down over the coming recession, we’ve continued to see a healthy amount of work coming through the department.
The team has also introduced very defined and tailored product for residential property and this has seen us used as a solicitor of choice across the North West.
Our matrimonial team
One of our senior associates, Kerry Lees-Russell, has recently had her second child so I’d like to extend heartfelt congratulations to her and her family.
Our litigation team
Our litigation team has enjoyed another solid year with a year on year increase. The litigation market has been strong and it will be interesting to see how the business environment next year will alter the type of work that they primarily deal with.
Our wills, trusts and probate team
The wills, trusts and probate team has grown this year lot of fresh blood in their ranks and are working exceptionally well. Although they’ve not worked together for very long, they’re delivering some fantastic work for their clients and ensuring all their clients are expertly represented.
Our employment team
Headed up by new partner David Rogers, the employment team has been doing some fine work this year. As well as all the employment legal support you’d expect to find, they’ve also just released a bespoke HR outsourcing service to support businesses through their employment issues on a retained basis.
What does 2023 have in store?
As everyone is being told, a recession is likely and tough times are ahead for all of us. In the final quarter of the year, we’re starting to see some gentle slowing down in the markets but Gorvins remain positioned very well to weather any storms that come our industry’s way, the multi disciplinary nature of our practice allows to be both flexible but also serve our clients whether private or commercial.
While there are challenges that come with an economic recession, there are also opportunities and we’ll be looking to come out of the hard times bigger, better and stronger than before as we have in the past.
Continuing growth
Going into the new year, we’re looking to bring some new faces into the firm and we’re very open to looking at a wide range of candidates. Gorvins is very much a firm built on a positive culture and we’re always keen to talk to anyone who’s 1) an excellent solicitor or legal worker, and 2) a good fit for our work culture.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year
On behalf of everyone here at Gorvins, I’d like to finish by wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I hope you’re able to spend some quality time with the people you love and return refreshed in the new year.
